She’s so fresh and so green

Young politician Azzees Minott, 22, could make history as the Green Party's first black MP and one of the youngest in the country

Written by Ade Onibada
16/04/2015 09:35 AM

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OPTIMIST: Azzees Minott

A POLITICAL career was not on the cards for Azzees Minott, but come May 7, just two days after her 23rd birthday, the young Green Party candidate could make history as its first black MP and one of the youngest in the country.

As the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PCC) for Warwick and Leamington, Minott will be seeking to unseat Conservative MP Chris White who is 25 years her senior.

The Coventry University international relations and politics graduate said: “I think this year of politics is already really exciting so if I won, I’d be really happy and would welcome the idea of being the youngest MP.”

Originally from Plaistow, east London, Minott spent the past year shadowing a local Green Party councillor in preparation. “I was so amazed that this group go out every single weekend, delivering newsletters, talking to residents and taking up case work. I really admired that,” she said.

Prior to this, the 22-year-old admits to having very little interest in politics. Disillusioned with the status quo and feeling like none of the three major parties represented her views, her aspiration was to work with a non-government organisation (NGO).

OPINION

Minott, whose family hails from Jamaica and St Lucia, recalled the words that changed that.

She said: “Someone said to me, ‘Why wouldn’t you stand? You’ve got an opinion and this is going to be the country you inherit so just think about it.’”

She added: “Young people are becoming more engaged in politics, more in touch with current affairs and the things happening in their community that they’re aggrieved about.”

Hoping to be a champion for social justice, at the top of her agenda is the addressing the demonisation of society’s most vulnerable people, addressing the effects of austerity on young people and tackling unemployment.

Dedicated to creating a sustainable future for society and the common good, the political hopeful said whatever the outcome she would continue to play a role in local politics, which she believes is under-served.

Posted on: 16/04/2015 09:35 AM

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